Adeniyi, new Lagos Int’l Airport Customs chief, seeks support of aviation stakeholders

Samson Echenim

Following the recent restructuring of commands in the Nigerian Customs Service operations, a new controller has been appointed for the new Murtala Mohammed International Airport command. He is Wale Adeniyi, a former public relations officer of the Nigeria Customs Service.

While taking over from the former controller of the airport command, Jayne Shoboiki, who now heads the local airport command, Adeniyi solicited the aid of his officers, airport and airline stakeholders to deliver on his new mandate, to establish the command as its first area controller.

He commended the Hameed Ali-led Customs administration for giving him the opportunity to head the command, noting that the purpose of the restructuring was to improve on revenue collection and trade facilitation.

“I want to count on the understanding of all of you and guidance of all of you together to tackle all these challenges and make this place better than I met it. We need to, of course, realise the objectives of the management in splitting the command into two. It is going to be a lot of work and I am sure we are all ready to work. It is now time for us to work because we have to put that work first before any other consideration,” he said.

“My office will be opened to all of you. I will be looking forward to your suggestions, proposal because we are practically going to set up this Command. I can assure you it is going to be fun working with me but also be a lot of hard work because we really have to work very hard,” Adeniyi added.

Earlier, former controller of the old Lagos airport command, Shoboiki explained that the command was split into two following the restructuring that saw additional eight commands.

She said that the Nigeria Customs Service Board at its 50th regular meeting on May 21, 2019, approved the un-bundling and created eight Customs area commands to enhance administrative convenience and boost revenue generation of the service.

“The Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Customs Command has been divided into two, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, while the other one remains Murtala Muhammed Airport Area Command.

“Coming here as an area controller will enable the command to generate more revenue for the government and Nigeria Customs, being the second largest revenue generating agency for government, to ensure that maximum revenue is collected for government,” Shoboiki said.

She, however, called on airport users to improve on their level of compliance to enable Customs achieve it aims to generate revenue and facilitate trade.